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Keeping Kids in the
Game and Out of Trouble
 Research suggests that children who regularly attend high-quality afterschool
programs tend to have better peer relations and emotional adjustment, better
grades and conduct in school, and more academic and enrichment opportunities.
They also spend less time watching television and have lower incidences of drug
use, violence, and pregnancy. Programs that provide supervised recreation address risk
factors for delinquency, such as alienation and association with delinquent or violent
peers, and introduce several protective factors, including skills for leisure activities and
opportunities to become involved with prosocial youth and adults. This article highlights
several OJJDP-supported athletic and recreational programs that strive to
prevent delinquency and foster prosocial values.
The nonprofit Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation was founded in 2001 by members
of the Ripken family in memory of their father Cal, Sr., long-time coach and
manager of the Baltimore Orioles. The foundation supports baseball and softball
programs and facilities that have a positive impact on disadvantaged youth.
Its mission is to use baseball to help young people develop character traits
such as leadership, teamwork, and good sportsmanship and to promote a healthy
lifestyle. The foundation benefits thousands of youth annually through a variety
of community efforts. Its programs use “The Ripken Way” instructional methods
to teach valuable life lessons and provide a life-changing experience for youth.
For more information, visit www.ripkenfoundation.org.
The mission of The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, is to improve
the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs
that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the
game of golf. The program makes it possible for youth from all walks of life to learn
a game that can be played for a lifetime. An essential part of the program is life-skills
training—integrated with athletic instruction—that teaches youth values such as
honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship. The First Tee program is overseen and supported
by representatives from the Ladies Professional Golf Association, PGA of
America, PGA TOUR, United States Golf Association, and the Augusta National
Golf Club. Former President George H.W. Bush serves as Honorary Chairman.
For more information, visit www.thefirsttee.org.
Through the National Association
of Midnight Basketball Leagues,
OJJDP supports No Workshops,
No Jump Shots programs in Gary,
IN, and Richmond, VA. These
programs use a combination of
workshops and athletics to reduce
truancy, improve academic performance,
and prevent delinquency
among at-risk youth ages 13–18.
Youth attend structured workshops
geared toward developing leadership
skills and preventing violence.
As a reward for attending the
workshops, youth can take part
in weekly sports events designed
to reinforce interpersonal skills,
teamwork, violence prevention, and
conflict resolution—while giving
participants a chance to have fun.
| The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention is a component of the
Office of Justice Programs, which also
includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance,
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National
Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims
of Crime. |
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| News @ a Glance is OJJDP’s bimonthly
newsletter, bringing you up-to-date notices
of agency activities, recent publications,
funding opportunities, and upcoming
events—with an emphasis on providing
quick access to online sources for publications
and other resources. Let us know
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www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp and click
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NCJ 207328
Office of Justice Programs · Partnerships
for Safer Communities · www.ojp.usdoj.gov
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